Entity: Patriotic Defence League (PDL)

Entity: Patriotic Defence League (PDL) 
 Basic Information 
 
 Type : Street movement / Activist group 
 Status : Active 
 Founded : 2024 (successor to DFLA) 
 Key figure : John Myles (aka John Smith) 
 Predecessor : Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA) 
 Registration : NOT a registered political party — no Electoral Commission oversight 
 Platforms : Telegram, YouTube, Rumble 
 
 Role in Ecosystem 
 The PDL is the most active UK far-right street movement as of 2024-2025. It organises counter-protests at asylum hotels and immigration-related sites. Because it's NOT a registered political party, its funding is completely opaque — no Electoral Commission disclosure requirements. 
 Money IN (Funding Received) 
 
 
 
 Date 
 From 
 Amount 
 Type 
 Confidence 
 Source 
 
 
 
 
 Ongoing 
 Telegram donation drives 
 Unknown 
 Informal donations 
 REPORTED 
 Pattern from similar groups 
 
 
 Ongoing 
 Crowdfunding campaigns 
 Unknown 
 Platform fundraising 
 REPORTED 
 JustGiving, GoFundMe patterns 
 
 
 Ongoing 
 Member contributions 
 Unknown 
 Informal 
 SPECULATIVE 
 Pattern-based 
 
 
 Ongoing 
 Merchandise sales 
 Unknown 
 T-shirts, banners, flags 
 SPECULATIVE 
 Pattern-based 
 
 
 
 Narrative : PDL funding is entirely informal and opaque. No formal donation records exist because the group is not a registered party. Funding likely comes from: 
 
 Telegram donation bots and wallet addresses 
 Crowdfunding for specific events/campaigns 
 Member contributions for travel, banners, equipment 
 Merchandise sales 
 
 JustGiving : John Myles ran a charity challenge ("4 Miles For Myles & MND Challenge") that raised £16,544 from 445 supporters. While this was for charity, it demonstrates his fundraising network. 
 Money OUT (Funding Given) 
 
 
 
 Date 
 To 
 Amount 
 Type 
 Confidence 
 Source 
 
 
 
 
 Ongoing 
 Counter-protests 
 Unknown 
 Travel, banners, equipment 
 SPECULATIVE 
 Pattern-based 
 
 
 Ongoing 
 Legal fees (members) 
 Unknown 
 Legal support 
 SPECULATIVE 
 Pattern from arrests 
 
 
 Ongoing 
 Media production 
 Unknown 
 Video/streaming equipment 
 SPECULATIVE 
 Pattern-based 
 
 
 
 Known Associations 
 
 
 
 Person/Org 
 Relationship 
 Evidence 
 
 
 
 
 DFLA 
 Predecessor organisation 
 Public knowledge 
 
 
 John Myles 
 Key figure 
 Public knowledge 
 
 
 Various local "Patriot" groups 
 Network 
 Telegram 
 
 
 
 Research Notes 
 Key questions : 
 
 Telegram channels : What wallet addresses are posted? Crypto donation totals? 
 Arrests/legal fees : Have PDL members been arrested? Who funds legal defense? 
 Event costs : How much do counter-protests cost (coaches, banners, stewards)? 
 Informal patrons : Are there wealthy individuals backing PDL privately? 
 Overlap with registered parties : Do any PDL members also donate to Reform UK or Heritage Party? 
 
 Red flags : 
 
 Completely opaque funding — no regulatory oversight 
 Street movement with potential for violence 
 Growing presence at asylum hotels 
 Informal funding = impossible to trace through normal channels 
 
 Significance : PDL represents the gap in UK political finance regulation: 
 
 Street movements don't have to declare funding 
 Telegram/crypto donations are untraceable 
 Crowdfunding platforms have minimal oversight 
 The most active far-right street movement has zero financial transparency 
 
 Last Updated 
 
 Date : 2026-06-14